How to draw owl eyes

Here is the way l drew the eyes for my third Eagle owl drawing.

Step 1.

ln step 1 l begin by drawing in the basic lines and the under colors, so l outlined the eyes and pupils using Faber Castell Polychromos in Cold Grey 4. I used Caran D’ache Luminance white to block in the white highlights of the eye. Then using hard pressure l used Polychromos white to mark in the little feathers in the corners of the eyes. Then l blocked in the pupils with the Polychromos grey. I used Holbein Sea Fog to block in the rims of the eyes. I used a little Holbein Luminous Orange where l want the eye to really catch the light. I then blocked in the iris using Polychromos in Light Chrome Yellow, Cadmium Yellow and Dark Chrome Yellow. Using the lightest yellows in the brightest parts of the eye.

Step 2

ln step 2 l start to map out where l want the basic colors and markings. I am concentrating on getting the little cloudy shapes in the iris and on adding little iridescent flecks to the rims of the eyes. I add a few spots of Caran D’ache Pablo’s Grass Green around the pupils.l use Polychromos Dark Cadmium Orange to start marking in the little cloudy shapes. Then l add spots of Holbeins in Ice Green, Rose Grey, Violet and Veridian to the eye rims. I use a layer of Polychromos black over the pupil.

Step 3

ln step 3 l use Holbein Smoke Blue around the rims to start building Seth of color. I brighten the Yellow ring around the pupils with Polychromos Light Chrome Yellow. I start adding more markings to the iris with Caran D’ache Luminance in Orange and Cornelian. I start to work on the highlights of the eye adding Holbein Lavender Blue to depict the reflected clouds over the pupil and Pablo’s Rose Pink and English Red over the iris highlight. I add another layer of Polychromos black to the pupil.

Step 4

ln step 4 l start to really look at my reference photo to pick out individual colors, l also want to start to create vibrance and to start to build the shaded area. I begin by brightening the whole lower area of the iris with Holbein Dandelion. Then add more detail to the eye markings using Holbein Luminance Orange, Orange, Autumn Leaf and Tiger Lily, l use Holbein Cinnamon and Brick in the upper more shaded area of the iris. I add a layer of Polychromos Red Violet over the pupils. I create a little shadow across the upper eye with Polychromos Caput Morten. I add a touch of Polychromos Cadmium Orange to the rims. I also add some depth to the rims using Pablo’s Mouse Grey. Then l add another layer of Polychromos black to the pupils. Finally l brighten the lower area of the eye again with Holbein Sunflower and add a little Holbein Cobalt Blue to the clouds in the highlights. The last part of this stage is to take my Luminance white and make some secondary (far fainter highlights) over the lower part of the pupils.

Step 5

ln step 5 l am simply building up the vibrancy of the color and adding all the tiny details to the eye markings. I use Holbeins in Scarlet, Carnation, Marigold and Orange. Then l add a little more shadow with Holbeins in Burgundy and Wine Red.

Step 6

ln step 6 which will leave the eyes nearly complete l use more pressure to really ramp up the intensity of the color. I use Luminance White to add more layers to the lowlights on the pupil. I build the layers and markings with Holbeins in Luminous Orange, Vermillion, Brick, Wine Red, Burgundy, Cinnamon, Sunflower, Orange and Tiger Lily. I add more depth to the eye rim with Pablo’s Dark Grey. I add a little Holbein Veridian to the white highlights. I work over the pupil with a layer of Holbein Black.

Step 7

ln this final step l have just upped the shadows adding lots more Holbein Raisin and Polychromos Capital Morten Violet and a little Black.